Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today attended a special programme at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Center to mark International Day of Forests, emphasizing Odisha’s exemplary progress in forest protection and biodiversity conservation.
During the event, Majhi visited a photo exhibition showcasing the state’s green initiatives and praised Odisha’s rise as a leading state in expanding the green cover. He described forests as the foundation of life and environmental protection, crediting scientific forest management and active public participation for this success.
Addressing key challenges such as forest fires and climate change, the Chief Minister noted that the government has allocated substantial budget funds and adopted modern technologies like AI and drones for better monitoring and prevention. He highlighted that shrinking forests often lead to increased human-wildlife conflicts, urging stronger community efforts to safeguard natural ecosystems.
Majhi called on citizens to intensify forest protection and adopt eco-friendly lifestyles. “The trees we plant today will shape a beautiful Earth for future generations,” he said. He appealed to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign a grand success, promoting a prosperous and green Odisha.
The Chief Minister stressed that International Day of Forests raises awareness about forests’ vital role in healthy environments and human well-being, while focusing on conservation amid climate change. Through effective management, large-scale plantations, and public engagement, Odisha has emerged as a frontrunner in green belt creation.
In the last two years, the state added approximately 558 square kilometers of forest and tree cover, bringing the total to 37.63% (58,597 sq km) of its land area. Under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ drive, Odisha planted 1.49 crore saplings in a single day and over 8 crore in a year, reflecting massive public involvement.
Majhi also underscored the theme ‘Forests and Economy’, noting forests’ importance for both environmental health and state development. With advancements in science and technology enabling cleaner industrialization, he advocated balancing environment and industry as complementary forces.
Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia highlighted the importance of celebrating World Forest Day and said that the Prime Minister always gives importance to the development of rural and forest dwellers. Keeping this in mind, we have been continuously working in this direction under the leadership of the Chief Minister.
The minister said that Forest Department is making efforts to take forward the livelihood of the people living in the forest areas. This work has been made more active by the department in tribal dominated districts. A lot of opportunities are being created for them to earn a living from other sources instead of depending only on the forest.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said that we have a big goal in mind for 2036 and 2047. There is a goal of large employment along with the growth of the Odisha economy. There is a plan for 2.5 million jobs from the tourism sector alone. The Forest Department will have a big role to play in the employment of the tourism sector. “Therefore, we have to develop the forest not only as an Ecological Contributor but also as an Economical Contributor. Like the Blue Economy, we have to pay special attention to the Green Economy,” she said.
The programme was graced by Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Principal Secretary, Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change. Dr K Murugesan , Principal Chief Conservator of Forests gave vote of thanks.
